EDUC2045 Cognitive Psychology in Education

Module Overview

This module is designed to provide you with an overview of the human cognitive system and its principles of information processing, demonstrating how these have been applied to understanding learning at different educational levels and in different educational domains. It will introduce you to theories and empirical research about how information is perceived, represented and stored in the brain, and how it is used during thinking and communication. It will give you practical experience of using some of the research methods that have been used to develop these theories, and outline how they have been applied to learning in different educational domains.

Module Details

Semester:

Semester 2

CATS points:

15

ECTS points:

7.5

Level:

Level 5

Module Lead:

David Galbraith

Aims and Objectives

Module Aims

- Introduce you to theories and empirical research about how information is perceived, represented and stored in the brain, and how it is used during thinking and communication.
- Demonstrate how these have been applied to understanding learning at different educational levels and in different educational domains.
- Give you practical experience of using some of the research methods that have been used to develop these theories, and outline how they have been applied to learning in different educational domains.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Outline the basic components and information processing principles of the cognitive system.

Explain how these have been applied to understanding learning in different educational domains.

Explain how these have been applied to understanding learning in different educational domains.

Interpret, and effectively communicate, theoretical and empirical research in written form.

Syllabus

Topics normally covered in this module will include:
- Basic cognitive processes, including perception, short term / working memory and long term memory.
- Higher mental processes: language comprehension and production, thinking and reasoning
- Applications of these concepts to educational domains, including reading, writing and arithmetic.
- Research methods in Cognitive Psychology, including collection and analysis of data relating to the processes covered in the module

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

This module will use a mix of lectures and seminars along with directed reading and suggested additional research. Sessions will last two hours and involve an interactive lecture on a syllabus topic, followed by a seminar or practical activity. Seminars will include 2 practicals where you will carry out an experimental study of an area covered in the module, and analyse and report the data that you have collected. Other seminars will require you to read, and participate in group discussions about, research papers on specific lecture-related topics. Seminars will typically also involve group discussion of the implications for educational policy and practice.